"ملاحظات ميدانية: بلاد الرافدين. هيئة الأركان العامة في الهند. فبراير ١٩١٧". [و‎‎٧‎٨] (٣٥٠/١٦٢)

Route No. 6— contd.
season (March, April, May, June), and after heavy rain. The
sections between Muzaibilah and Sarifah, where the route crosses
marsh and low-lying ground, is impassable for guns except at
the driest time of the year; September to January, both in
clusive. The remainder of the route could, with improved
bridging, be made practicable for all arms during the whole
of the dry season. The going is generally very rough.
Obstacles .—In addition to the marsh mentioned above, the
chief obstacles are the numerous canals and water cuts. Tem
porary wooden bridges have, however, been thrown across
the larger of these, but these bridges require strengthening for
continuous traffic. The approaches to the smaller water cuts
have been improved. The Tigris is crossed at Umm Mas-ha near
Qal’at Salih by a bridge of boats.
Watei \—Good and plentiful from the Tigris and its
tributaries.
Supplies. —Dates, eggs, chicken, sheep, grain and a little
milk and wild duck can be bought at most of the villages en
route. Some grazing and fuel can be found alongside the road.
Communications .—The route follows the telegraph line
(two wires, iron tubular posts) the whole way. If river trans
port, other than steamers, be used, the length of the marches
depends very largely on the rate at which the boats can move.
With a head wind progress is very slow, and it takes roughly
10 hours to do a distance of 16-18 miles by river correspond
ing to 12-14 miles by road. The total distance by river is
96 miles.
Camping grounds .—In high flood season (March to June)
the following localities stand above water :—
(a) Qurnah—right bank only. The left bank is subject to
inundation. Qurnah itself, including Fort Snipe,
would accommodate a division with difficulty.
(b) The Abu Aran and adjoining mounds within 10 miles
up-stream of Qurnah—-mostly right bank—would,
if necessary, accommodate a division.
(c) Withijj 2^ miles of Abu Rubah on left bank there is
a tomb about 1£ miles from the Tigris. This stands
on a mound big enough to hold a brigade. There